What Helps Adults With Autism Get And Keep A Job
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 — Adults with autism face many challenges, and one of the biggest is finding and keeping a job.
More than two-thirds of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed, and a new survey identifies some of the most significant barriers — and benefits — to work.
People with autism reported that “the most important factors in being able to get a job are past work experience and vocational training. It helps people get a sense of the norms and expectations,” said study author Matthew Lerner, a professor of psychology, psychiatry and pediatrics at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y.
“For maintaining a job, focusing on individual strengths — like attention to detail and accuracy on work tasks — is important,” Lerner said.
“Factors that were less important were increased or modified pay rates, and a one-to-one work coordinator or mentor. Many people felt they were being shadowed or stigmatized, rather than had a supportive boss,” he noted.
The bottom line is that “people with autism are people, and often their needs don’t differ so dramatically from people without autism,” Lerner said. “If we can better accommodate their needs in ways that are easy and low-cost, they can be phenomenal contributors when given the right opportunity.”
Dave Kearon is director of adult services for Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization. He agreed that it’s important to “have a good fit for each individual.”
Aviation Maintenance Inspector: $65k1
Making sure that airplanes are airworthy is critically important work that requires great focus and precision. Aviation inspectors check that all aircraft instruments, components, and systems are functioning properly and that all repairs are carried out in accordance with established standards. You’ll need to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration .
Adult Services Vary By Location
While the IDEA law is federally mandated, adult services to individuals with disabilities are not. Most adult programs and services are paid for and managed by the state, with some programs available only on a local level. Some states are more generous with their funding than others, some have more disability-friendly employers than others, and so forth.
According to a survey conducted by the non-profit organization Autism Speaks, the metropolitan areas of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Boston are among the 10 best places in America to live for people who have autism. Survey respondents in these areas were happy with the services and programs their cities provide, including educational services and flexible employer policies.
Also Check: Can Autistic Child Become Normal
Social Relatedness Versus Learning Social Skills
Individuals on the spectrum can learn many complex social rules and become really good at learning how to act on the stage of daily life.
However, they may never be really emotionally related.
Brain scans done on me and several other people on the spectrum by Nancy Minshew indicate that things are usually more interesting than people. We need people in this world who are interested in things.
Back in the days of the caveman, the really social people did not make the first stone spear. Most electronic gadgets, such as mobile telephones, are made by people who have mild to moderate Asperger traits. I have read profiles of many leaders in high tech fields in the business magazines, and many Asperger traits are described. Several books are available which profile famous scientists, musicians, and artists who were either Aspergers or high-functioning autism.
Einstein would have been diagnosed with autism if he had been born more recently. He had no speech until age 3.
Simon Baron Cohen has done much work on the link between autism traits and creativity and genius. The happiest people on the spectrum socialize with others who have some shared interests.
Autism and Asperger Books by Temple Grandin:
Grandin T. 1986. Emergence: Labeled Autistic, Warren Books, New York. Describes my Early childhood experiences.
Opening A Vocational Training Centre:
Lastly, one of the best jobs that anyone with this syndrome could embark on is opening a vocational training centre where he or she could do the wonderful task of helping others who have Aspergers and do not have the confidence to work in offices or companies.
Few other jobs visual thinkers can look for are
- Automobile mechanic
- Video game design and web page design.
Don’t Miss: Does Gestational Diabetes Cause Autism
Small Business Commits To Qualify Of Life Employing Those With Autism
Spectrum Designs is a Long Island company committed to enhancing the quality of life of people with autism, who often face barriers to employment. The company was started in 2010 by Stella Spanakos, whose son Nicholas was diagnosed with autism as a toddler and is now 22. Spectrum Designs already employs 30 people as of 2014. In 2013, the company doubled its service capacity and tripled its sales, nearing over half a million dollars.
Now Hiring: What Autistic People Need To Succeed In The Workplace
Autistic adults have more job opportunities than they used to, and a small neurodiverse workforce is thriving but mainly at select companies that invest heavily in such employees.
by Lina Zeldovich / 4 March 2020
Adrienne Rutledge graduated from college with a biology degree. She went on to earn a masters degree and then, in various short-lived and contract jobs, picked up programming and data processing, coveted skills in the marketplace. Still, she could not land a fulfilling full-time position. Rutledge is African American and has autism, and she had trouble making it past the interview stage.
When her contract job ended more than a year ago, she decided to boost her technical expertise and enrolled in a six-week data boot camp with a nonprofit organization based in San Jose, California. She finally got a break when, in March 2019, she presented her project to an audience that included Hiren Shukla, who leads the accounting firm Ernst & Youngs Neurodiversity Centers of Excellence. Shukla was so impressed with Rutledge, he immediately invited her to apply for a position in the company.
The interview for the job lasted a week and was different from all others Rutledge had experienced. She did not have to answer questions about her career goals or how she deals with conflict. Instead, she parsed Excel spreadsheets for patterns and designed a system to manage orders from customers. They really gave us an opportunity to demonstrate what we could do, she recalls.
Read Also: Does Gestational Diabetes Cause Autism
Common Proficiencies Of People With Asd
You may have heard the axiom: If you know one person with autism, you know one person with autism. Like everyone else, people on the autism spectrum possess a wide range of skills, abilities and interests. However, many people with ASD demonstrate one or more of the following career proficiencies:
- Visually oriented. Many individuals who are on the autism spectrum are strong visual thinkers. With a keen attention to detail, they can easily spot things others may miss and excel at intricate work.
- Interested in animals. Children with autism often develop strong bonds with their pets. Because they can relate to an aversion to eye contact, loud noises and over-stimulation, people with ASD can be especially attuned to the needs of animals.
- Good with facts. People with ASD have a tendency to approach situations logically, which can be helpful for making objective decisions. Many individuals on the spectrum enjoy research and develop an impressive knowledge base on a topic of interest.
- High technical aptitude. For individuals who are very detail-oriented, technical skills often come easily. Many people with autism have a unique talent for learning the ins and outs of machines, systems or programs.
Best Jobs For Adults With High
Posted: Statistician. Median Annual Wage: $80,500. With their attention to detail and their intolerance for Computer Programming. Median Annual Wage: $79,840. Computer programming is a well-paid job, Accounting. Median Annual Wage: $68,150. Have you seen the movie The Accountant with Ben Reference Librarian/Re-shelving library books. Median Annual Wage: $57,680. Working in a library Auto Mechanic. Median Annual Wage: $38,470. Car repair can be one of the best jobs for adults Journalist. Median Annual Wage: $37,820. Yes, people with Aspergers and high-functioning autism Veterinary Technician. Median Annual Wage: $32,490. Dr. Temple Grandin, who was diagnosed Lawn and Garden work. Median Annual Wage: $26,300. Lawn and garden work, thats up next on Telemarketing. Median Annual Wage: $24,300. Despite the fact that telemarketing thats on the 9th Taxi driver. Median Annual Wage: $24,300. Remember when we mentioned how persons with See full list on insidermonkey.com
Read Also: Can A Child Outgrow Autism
Job Options Depend On Abilities And Challenges
One of the hardest realities to face as the parent of a child with autism or an autistic self-advocate is that abilities are not always enough to get and keep a good job. A young adult with autism may be a brilliant mathematician, but if they can’t generalize their skills to a needed function, such as accounting or statistics, there may be no job available. Other issues that can be serious obstacles to employment include:
- Social anxiety
- Difficulty with handling criticism
- Unwillingness to share or collaborate
Oddly enough, it can sometimes be easier to find a job placement for a nonverbal person with few sensory issues than for a talented techie who can’t handle an office environment.
Understanding strengths and challenges are important to the transition and job search process. If you know what issues are likely to be a problem, you can advocate for training, internships, and “job carving” to create the right job match.
Benefits Of Employing People With Autism
People with autism can hold regular, full-time jobs just like neurotypical people. In fact, autistic employees might perform better than their peers.
A study conducted in Australia reveals that there are no additional costs incurred when employing someone on the spectrum. It also concludes that the quality of work and the employees work ethic is higher in autistic employees than their neurotypical counterparts.
Chargeback, a Utah-based company that investigates credit card disputes, hired Carrie Tierney, an analyst with autism, to handle technical data and repetitive tasks. Tierney gets the work done in laser-like accuracy and in half the time as new analysts. Its president, Khalid El-Awady, says hes been very impressed and plans to hire more candidates like Tierney.
Based on these and other companies feedback, the benefits of employing people with autism are:
- Better quality of work
- Unique perspective
- Less distracted by social interactions
This emerging phenomenon of integrating people with autism and other disabilities into the workforce is called neurodiversity. It is a new concept that has slowly taken off in the past few years.
Also Check: What Is The Life Expectancy Of People With Autism
Planning And Resources For Success
Lisa Sullivan, MS, is a nutritionist and a corporate health and wellness educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry.
It can be difficult for people with autism spectrum disorder to find regular, paid employment. However, increasing numbers of employers are open to hiring adults with disabilities, including those with ASD.
That said, if you’re an adult with ASD and about to embark on a job hunt, be aware that you may have to jump through more hoops and pass more tests and evaluations than neurotypical job candidates. Here are 10 things to know to help you understand the challenges you may face and where to turn for support.
Specialisterne Employees Excel At Their Jobs In Consultants In Software Testing & Data Entry
Specialisterne is a Denmark based company where the majority of their employees are on the autism spectrum. Employees work as business consultants in STEM roles. They provide their unique perspective to fields like software testing, programming and data-entry for the public and private sectors. They have operations in many countries around the world. .
Don’t Miss: Diy Visual Schedule
Restocking Shelves In Stores:
Having Aspergers syndrome does not mean that the person is incapable of doing any task or has to be confined to the house at all times. Many people make the mistake of not allowing their loved ones with the syndrome to work and this does affect him or her adversely because as time passes by, he or she begins to feel useless.
Even a job at a retail store, involving him or her to restock empty shelves could most certainly give the person involved a sense of importance and identity.
Best Jobs For Autistic Adults
Like anyone else, people with autism are individuals with individual skills and interests. We at disABLEDperson Inc. are committed to helping those with disabilities find meaningful work.
Many people with autism share some similar characteristics that offer some clues as to good career areas to try out. Below we will list nine good options to check out, but, actually, any job that has a certain environment can work well, regardless of field.
In general, people with autism prefer concentrating at one thing at a time, having clear cut expectations and guidelines, and value accuracy and detail. Those with autism often are highly focused on certain subjects and excel when given space to apply that interest.
Any job environment that allows for these characteristics, regardless of field, could be a good option.
The following job areas are particularly good jobs for people with autism.
Don’t Miss: Does James Holzhauer Have Autism
Best Jobs For People With Autism In 2021
You are here:Home Career Ideas Jobs For People With Autism
If you have been told that you are on the autism spectrum, one of the concerns you might have is about how hard it will be getting a job with autism.
You or your family and friends might be wondering if there are jobs for autistic adults. Thankfully, there are a wide variety of positions for you to consider.
Some of them do not require any formal training, and others you can gain the skills to do in two years or less.
One of the best things you can do for yourself when you are thinking about autism employment opportunities is to consider your likes, dislikes, and skills.
Keep in mind that these are good jobs for people with autism, but you will find many others doing them who are not on the spectrum.
A Parents Guide To High
This guide for parents uses real-world examples and stories to illustrate ways to help kids with ASD. It teaches parents the facts they need about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder , including Asperger syndrome.
Reading this will give you sufficient information to train your children. You can help your child relate more comfortably to peers, learn the rules of appropriate behavior, and succeed in school. This second edition clearly explains the implications of the DSM-5 diagnostic changes.
Also Check: Does Nick Eh 30 Have Autism
Top 10 Autism Friendly Employers
Lisa Sullivan, MS, is a nutritionist and a corporate health and wellness educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry.
According to research, performing job-related activities helps to reduce symptoms and increase daily living skills for those with autism however, only about half of autistic adults are employed. There’s no doubt that employment is elusive for adults on the spectrum. This reality, however, is changing fast.
A January 2019 article in Forbes,“Effective Autism Employment: A Legal Perspective.” would have been nonexistent a decade prior. The article pointed to major initiatives by top tech employers, such as SAP and Microsoft, and the beneficial impact of their workplace inclusion programs.
The Complete Guide To Aspergers Syndrome By Tony Attwood
Here is a definitive handbook that is essential reading for anyone with or related to someone with ASD. It brings together a wealth of information on all aspects of the syndrome for children through to adults.
Attwood uses case studies and personal accounts from his extensive clinical experience to compile the knowledge. Topics covered are causes, diagnosis, impact, theory of mind, social perception, long-term relationships, bullying, mental health, communication, cognition, and more.
Read Also: What Does The Puzzle Mean For Autism
Choosing The Right Job For People With Autism Or Asperger’s Syndrome
Temple Grandin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Jobs need to be chosen that make use of the strengths of people with autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Both high and low functioning people have very poor short-term working memory, but they often have a better long-term memory than most normal people. I have great difficulty with tasks that put high demands on short-term working memory. I cannot handle multiple tasks at the same time. Table 1 is a list of BAD jobs that I would have great difficulty doing. Table 2 is a list of easy jobs for a visual thinker like me. I have difficulty doing abstract math such as algebra and most of the jobs on Table 2 do not require complex math. Many of the visual thinking jobs would also be good for people with dyslexia.
Some job tips for people with autism or Asperger’s syndrome:
- Jobs should have a well-defined goal or endpoint.
- Sell your work, not your personality. Make a portfolio of your work.
- The boss must recognize your social limitations.
School Services End At Age 22
The moment a person with a disability turns 22, they’re no longer covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act . School is an entitlement, meaning schools are required to provide a free and appropriate education. Adult services, however, are not entitlements. You may or may not qualify for services and, even if you are qualified, the service providers may or may not be funded.
In practice, however, anyone with a significant disability will qualify for and receive at least some adult services. To make this happen, though, you’ll need to know how the transition works in your community, what options are available in your state, and how to qualify for the services you may need.
Read Also: How To Tell If My Child Is Autistic